By Sade Adewale,Ondo
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A 39-year-old cocoa farmer, Kole Jubril, has been dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N322,000 from a trader, under false pretence of supplying him cocoa beans.

The police brought Jubril before the court on Tuesday for allegedly collecting the money from one Mr Victor  Olanipekun, with a promise to supply him cocoa beans, without  fulfilling his promise.

Jubril is now facing a one- count charge of pretence.

The accused person was said to have committed the offence on March, 2018, contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The charge sheet read in part,”That you, Kole Jubril, in March 2018 at about 1pm at Eco Bank, yaba, Ondo in Ondo Magisterial district, did obtain the sum of N322,000 from one Olanipekun Victor under the pretence to supplying him cocoa beans knowing fully to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The police prosecutor, lnspector  Benard Olagbayi, who told the court that he would be calling three witnesses to testify in the case, applied for a date to enable him study the case file.

Lawyer for the accused person, Barrister Bekewe Ekpoemi, applied for the bail of the accused in most liberal terms.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Bolatito Ajibade granted the accused bail in the sum of N400,000 with one surety in like sum.

She said the surety must be residents within the jurisdiction, while they must show evidence of payment of tax for the current year.

She adjourned the case till February 27, 2019 for trial.